Okay so I’ve been identifying for almost a year now, and I always learn the scientific names. Every species I know how to identify, I know the scientific name. BUT… I have no idea how to pronounce them! I would hate to be talking with someone and totally butcher a binomial name like that. I’m hones…

[image] tiwane: I sadly only speak English I bet you know at least hola, tacos, and naturalista :slightly_smiling_face:

Interesting discussion! In my understanding of Latin, Lithophane would be pronounced Lith o fan e. Although every time I read it, in my French mind, it is Lith o fan!

At least in my opinion latin pronunciation fails in favor of doing what “looks right.” For example, Corvus corax (the common raven) should be pronounced “KORR-wuss KORR-ax” but I always say it “KORR-viss KORR-ax” (apologies for terrible pronunciation guide, I don’t know IPA.

[image] afournier: Lithophane would be pronounced Lith o fan e. Although every time I read it, in my French mind, it is Lith o fan! Whereas to me, it rhymes with cellophane [ˈseləˌfān]

I was in a group hike recently where someone who has written botany books followed this formality when pronouncing Chenopodium as KEN-OH-PO-DEE-UM. I was very surprised and assumed it was supposed to be CHEN-OH-PO-DEE-UM (like China) and now I’m wondering about how to say Capsicum chinense .

I always assumed the CH was pronounced as K for names derived from Greek (unless it’s Latin). As in the word chelate. I pronounce the turtle genus Chelydra with a K sound although I’ve heard some pronounce it with a CH sound. And I’ve always heard Chenopodium pronounced with a K sound but then I’ve …

I think that’s the way I’ve most often heard it. Added: Even if you’re not sure of the origin of the scientific name, I almost always pronounce the CH as a K as it usually is pronounced in most scientific terms: chemistry, chordate, notochord, chelate, Chlamydia, etc.

So, you’re telling that English speakers pronounce chlamydia with “k” and not “h”?

Where Do I Start With Pronouncing Scientific Names?

Nature Talk

DianaStuder September 21, 2022, 2:24pm 140

then I am an Oxford barbarian. Our Chenopodium is China not Ken.

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Where Do I Start With Pronouncing Scientific Names?

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